Bramwell (West Virginia)
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Bramwell is a town of 426 people (as of 2000) in the Bluefield micropolitan area of West Virginia. Incorporated in 1888, Bramwell became known as the "Home of Millionaires" because it contained more millionaires per capita around the turn of the 20th century (up to 13, mostly wealthy coal barons) than any other town in the US; today, their Victorian and Tudor style mansions can still be viewed. The town was named for New York civil engineer J. H. Bramwell, who became the town's first postmaster and president of the Bank of Bramwell, and incorporated in 1888. Bramwell was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.Get in
Bramwell is located just off US-52, between Bluefield and Welch.
Bramwell is also a stop on the Bluefield-Welch line of Bluefield Area Transit; buses pass by 5 times a day going in each direction.
See
- A tour of Bramwell's many historic homes, 304-248-7114 or 304-248-7252 or 866-248-TOUR. the 1895 Goodwill House (with a ballroom), the 1902 Perry House (with Victorian furnishings, now a bed-and-breakfast), the Virginia Davis House, the 1909 Thomas House (with carved walls, a dumbwaiter and central vacuum-cleaning system), the 1909 Mann House and Bungalow (a three-story turreted mansion and house-sized "playhouse" for his children and governess), and the 1914 Hewitt House (the last coal-baron house built in Bramwell, with Tiffany fixtures and hardwood floors).
- The historic Bank of Bramwell building. Thanks to the nearby Pocahontas coalfields, the Bank of Bramwell was once the financial center of southern West Virginia and one of the wealthiest banks per capita in the United States, until its closure in 1933 during the Great Depression. The bank was so wealthy that money was transported by wheelbarrow in leather bags to the trains tation. Apparently, it even inspired a popular phrase in the 1920s: "solid as the Bank of Bramwell".
- The 1904 Bramwell Presbyterian Church, WV-120 and Main Street, 304-248-8085.
Highwall ParkUS-52. Bluegrass music every second Saturday from May through October.
phone: +1 304-248-8565
US-52 southeast of Bramwell. 400 acres of parkland, trout-stocked Jimmy Lewis Lake, 2-mile hiking trail, and a 3,100-foot sandstone formation with overlook.Do
Events
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Historic Bramwell House Tour
phone: +1 304-248-8381Held on the second Saturday in May and the second Saturday in December. Covers 21 house and building exteriors in the historic district. -
Bramwell Oktoberfest
phone: +1 304-248-8004Held in early October since 1996. Brewpub and homebrew competitions, beer tastings, artisan's market, local tours, live entertainment. $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
Buy
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phone: +1 304-248-7414address: 147 Main StMain Street. Eclectic gifts including decorations, soaps, candles, cards, jewelry, antiques, and local artwork.
Bramwell Corner ShopHoused in the 1910 Bryant pharmacy, with the original furniture and wall cabinets. The original ice-cream parlor still serves ice cream and milkshakes.
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A Touch of Glass
phone: +1 304-248-8543address: Main Street
Eat
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Sadie's Place
phone: +1 304-248-8181Calzones, hamburgers, subs and hot dogs.
Sleep
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Bluestone Inn Bed & Breakfast
phone: +1 304-248-7402address: 1 Main St -
phone: +1 304-248-7414 or +1 813-748-94032-bedroom apartment suites with full bath, living and dining room, kitchen and foyer.
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The Pack House
phone: +1 304-248-7252address: Main St -
River's Bend Bed & Breakfast
phone: +1 304-248-8543 or +1 304-248-8528address: 211 S River St -
Three Oaks & A Quilt
phone: +1 304-248-8316address: Duhring St
Go next
- Bluefield is about 15 minutes south on US-52.
- Welch is about 40 minutes northwest on US-52.
- Wytheville, Virginia is about 1 hour south on US-52 / I-77.